Oviedo 2031 team gathers cultural sector in Trascorrales to share progress and next steps
The Edificio de Trascorrales hosted an open meeting with citizens this Thursday, where the Oviedo 2031 European Capital of Culture bid team shared the current status of the project and the next steps following the successful completion of the first phase.
The event, conceived as a space for dialogue and listening, included the announcement of a new €200,000 funding programme aimed at strengthening the local cultural and creative sector. The call, opening on July 1st, seeks to support cultural initiatives throughout the year and reinforce the city’s artistic ecosystem.
The meeting also served to present the main conclusions of the European expert panel, which positively assessed the project’s approach, particularly the concept of “amabilidá” as its central axis. Areas for improvement were also identified, including citizen participation and volunteer engagement, both of which are already being addressed in this next phase.
Rodolfo Sánchez, director of the bid, highlighted the transformative potential of the process, stressing that becoming a European Capital of Culture is not only about cultural programming, but also about rethinking the city from a more open, connected and European perspective.
Artistic co-directors Paula Mota and Zoe López shared the stage for the first time since their appointment to discuss the challenges ahead. These include building a project with a genuine European dimension, capable of fostering international connections and actively engaging citizens. They also acknowledged the key role played by the curatorial team during the first phase and their ongoing contribution to the next stage.
The event also featured Habla la Tinta, a group of poets who turned their typewriters into tools for live creation. Through conversations with attendees, they produced poems on the spot, adding a participatory and creative dimension to the event.
Marta Fernández Silverio hosted the session and outlined the current stage of the bid, which now enters a decisive phase with the preparation of a new dossier to be submitted to the jury in the coming months. This document will reflect not only the territory’s cultural ambition but also its capacity to generate a lasting impact.
The event brought together cultural agents, artists, institutional representatives and citizens, and concluded with a live musical performance by Tania Pereira, bringing the evening to a close.
